Cutaways are shots that show something other than the main action or subject of a video. They can be used to add context, emotion, variety, and clarity to your video storytelling. In this article, you will learn how to use cutaways effectively and creatively in your journalism projects.
Cutaways are shots that interrupt the main sequence of a video to show something different or related. They can be images, video clips, graphics, animations, or anything else that supports your story. Cutaways can help you transition between scenes, fill in gaps, create contrast, or emphasize a point. They can also make your video more engaging and dynamic by breaking the monotony of talking heads or long shots.
Cutaways are a valuable tool for storytelling. Just add them to smoothen up your transitions and bridge up the gap between time zones/locations to keep the audience engaged. Well they can also be used to juxtapose a story for a parallel storyline continuing a story. Cutaways can actually make or break your story!
Contextual Detail: Provide additional information by inserting cutaways. Smooth Transitions: Seamlessly weave cutaways into the narrative, maintaining a natural flow in the storytelling. Visual Variety: Enhance viewer engagement with diverse visuals of interest. Narrative Support: Align with and support the narrative. Emotional Impact: Use cutaways to evoke emotions or key moments B-Roll Enhancement: Utilize cutaways as additional B-roll footage. Highlight Details: Zoom in on specific details or elements in the cutaway footage Interview Support: Integrate cutaways during interviews. Scene Transition: Employ cutaways for smooth scene transitions. Capture and ingest appealing cutaways to the tone of the story.
Cutaways can significantly improve your video storytelling by displaying details and information not visible or audible in the main shot, providing context for your story, creating emotion or mood, adding variety and interest, and enhancing the quality and continuity of your story. For example, you can use cutaways to show a close-up of an object, a map, a document, or a reaction; historical footage, archival photos, or relevant data; the impact of an event, the atmosphere of a place, or the feelings of a person; different angles, perspectives, or locations; and cover up mistakes, edit out pauses, or smooth out transitions.
Cutaways should be relevant, meaningful, and consistent with your story, rather than distracting or confusing your audience. To choose cutaways, plan ahead and make a list or storyboard of the cutaways you want to capture or create. Additionally, shoot extra footage from different angles, distances, and durations. Capture some generic or neutral cutaways that can be used in different situations. To make your story unique and surprising, be creative with different types, styles and techniques of cutaways.
Cutaways should be used sparingly and strategically in your video, never interrupting or overwhelming the main story, but rather supporting or enhancing it. When adding cutaways, ensure they match the audio of the main shot, either continuing or fading out smoothly. Additionally, the timing should coincide or contrast with the main action or event. And finally, the cutaway should reinforce or challenge the main mood or message, avoiding any inconsistencies that could confuse your audience.
Cutaways should be edited with care and professionalism in your video, as if they were an integral part of your story. To ensure this, you should use transitions to blend the cutaway with the main shot, and filters to adjust the color, brightness, contrast, or other aspects. Additionally, text can be used to add captions, labels, titles, or other information. However, it should be used sparingly and legibly to avoid cluttering or obscuring the cutaway. Cutaways are powerful tools that can help you tell better stories with video. With wise and creative use of cutaways, you can make your video more informative, emotional, varied, and clear; helping your audience see, feel, and understand what you want them to.